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[olivermoss]

I got into the Djo ticket presale and get to see him here in Portland at Revolution Hall, a really cool venue. Only uh, this particular venue has no assigned seating? I had my tablet open with the seating chart and everything! Oof. I do not like feeling in competition with other fans. Also, the only other time I've been to this venue some guy tried the entire time we were waiting for the show to start, over half an hour, bugging me to give up my seat for his kid. Going solo to shows sucks because no only do people like that see me and go 'target acquired', but dare I go to the bathroom?

I haven't gone to a concert in years. I haven't gone to a show for a currently popular band in...umm... shit, ever? I have no clue what I am doing or how to prep for a concert. Last time I was at that venue was for a live show by the guy that does the Lore podcast. How to dress? Do I need one of those little clear backpacks I see the kids wearing to shows? The venue allows photography, but does the tour have a policy that supersedes that? Is there a thing I need to know I wouldn't think to ask?

It was kinda funny to see people be all 'You listen to music by Joe Keery's band? Okay drooling stranger things superfan' to End of Beginning becoming one of the top streamed songs of 2024. Pretty impressive since his music follows no trend I am aware of and both the music and his band's on stage look reminds me of obscure experimental stuff I used to scrounge around in Tower Records for. (for people who aren't older than dirt, Tower Records was a place where you could listen to albums before buying them. So, if you didn't want top 40 back in the day, you searched Tower Records)

Decide is just one of the best albums I've heard and has two songs that are two of my favorite songs in general. The song I love by him that wasn't an inescapable hit is On and On:

Watch on YouTube

His earlier songs and also the one single he's released from his new album, I like 'em. I vibe with them. But it's really the stuff on Decide that I love and why I am going to the show.

Comments

[mistressofmuses]

I don't think I've ever given Djo a listen, but I definitely should!

Going solo to shows is rough.

Most of the venues I've been to shows at have all been just general floor admission, without assigned seating. It is a bit frustrating to have that feeling of being nearly in competition with everyone else at the show for space. I typically don't have a lot of trouble getting near to the front if I want to (especially if I get there early and/or head up front for any opening bands, and then don't leave) but it depends on the show, and sometimes there's an aggressive jerk up front who wants to shove everyone else out of the way. And yeah, it sucks if you're solo and need a bathroom break or just want to go get a drink.

The venue should have a bag policy for if you need a clear bag or anything, though at least here it's pretty uncommon to need them. (More of a thing in either stadiums or the big dance clubs where gang violence is sometimes a spillover.) Though I typically do my absolute best to have everything in pockets to avoid having to keep track of a bag and worry about theft or bulk or dropping it somewhere. They may not require a clear bag, but may have a maximum size policy.

How to dress? Can't go wrong with basic black, but take that with an "I go mostly to goth shows" grain of salt, lol. Especially for a show with general admission open floor, in my experience I ALWAYS get super hot, so definitely short sleeves, and if you want something else over that, make sure it's something you don't mind taking off and carrying or tying around your waist. Shoes you don't mind standing in.

[olivermoss]

End Of Beginning is the song by them that blew up huge. I love so much of the album.


But for real, tell me they don't look like an early 90s band still holding onto the experimental synth scene that has a cult following? And yes, that is Joe in a terrible wig because he doesn't want people coming to shows just to get pictures of Steve Stranger Things.

I have a ticket to the balcony section, so at least it's not the floor and people fighting for being at the stage. Since I got into the pre-sale I get early entry, but I don't know what percentage is also early entry with me. While Revolution Hall is an amazing small venue, I'd have gotten Seattle tickets if I'd known about the seating. Seattle has assigned.

This is not my first show where the lead singer is also an actor and hooooo boy, yeah, that can get not great. I have been physically forced from spots in the past. Rev Hall is amazing and it's the pick for a lot of Portland shows despite it's small size for a reason, but I'd take the big venue in Seattle over this. A lot of shows that could fill much bigger spaces book Rev Hall when hitting Portland. There's an opening band, so, yeah, line time + opening + show is a lot.

I am only going to bring a bag if I bring my camera. If cameras are not allowed, then no bag at all. Venue allows cameras, but will the show? I wont know for a bit. The venue seems to allow very small bags, and hey I use a light/compact camera system. I'll have to wait and see on all of that. I've just seen so many people on light rail with those clear bags I didn't know if that was the norm now.

I want boots with a bit of a heel because am short. If we all stand for some songs, that could suck for me if I don't get a front-of-balcony spot. But, also I'll need to line up at least an hour early. I don't want to wear Stranger Things stuff or band merch, but I want to like... dress the vibe?

[mistressofmuses]

Oh, that is *very* 90s experimental synth. Delightful! (Though yeah, I can definitely see them not wanting people showing up just to see their Stranger Things fave character. The wig seems a bit terrible, though, ha.)

Balcony will hopefully be better than main floor! It's been a long time since I went to a show that had assigned seating, so it's interesting to me that it's still a thing! Just... not here, I guess, haha. (I think the last thing I went to with specific seats was a Welcome to Nightvale live show.) But interesting that it is in Seattle, at least. (Though I'm sorry it's not at your venue.)

I hope the show allows cameras, and I'm glad that your system for yours is likely compact enough not to run up against any max size rules. The clear bags don't seem to be much of the norm here outside of a few specific scenes and venue types... but as above, assigned seating also isn't much of a norm here, so it could vary more by region than I realize.

I basically always have to weigh the pros and cons of heeled boots (which are my preferred shoes) vs. shoes that I don't much like but that don't make my feet cry after a few hours. I should really get some boots with lower heels, but I long to be tall, ha.
Yeah, definitely want to dress the vibe... Hmm...

[olivermoss]

There's not any terrible seats in this balcony, I don't think. It's just a few rows and pretty steep. I think I make a good call.

I just haven't been to many shows, especially more mainstream shows, ones where you don't wear brass goggles. So, I am a bit lost on how to prepare. I've seen Swifties talk like concert prep takes about a month.

I hope cameras are allowed, but also if not that means I don't even need to worry about all that.

Problem is that most AFAB people wear heels, so if I don't I am just way shorted than everyone else in some settings and it's awkward and annoying. I don't currently have good shoes for it.

[mistressofmuses]

I think the balcony will be good!

Yeah... and my experience with most of the shows I go to is also fairly limited, to be fair. We have a lot of small to mid-sized venues that are all fairly similar in terms of open floor/general admission seeming standard, but I tend to be seeing pretty niche acts as well. And it does occur to me that Red Rocks is also all assigned seating (though sort of has to be, natural amphitheater and all), and I'd forgotten about going there.

Man, I can't imagine that sort of prep work for going to a show! Though I guess I should expect that those big sorts of arena shows that are a Whole Event are different from what I think of when I go to concerts. (And I suppose when tickets cost as much as I make in a week, you want to make sure you're getting the most you can out of it!)

Hopefully you can bring your camera, and know before too long.

Yeah... It's sort of an escalating arms race. If everyone else is wearing heels, you have no choice but to do the same! Being short sucks sometimes. Decent non- or low-heeled boots definitely need to be on my wishlist, too.

[olivermoss]

Yeah, I think for Swifties an a concert is like the event to see and be seen, planning the outfit, etc. Some record like the whole trip to the venue and it's a whole thing.

I have time, but I do want to outfit plan seriously. I don't have a lot of clothes, especially anything like nice, anything to wear to a show. I still have the jacket I wore to Kane shows in 2009?

A good pair of heeled boots would hopefully be a good addition to my wardrobe. State of stores here, I might need to go to Seattle to shop... I've been kind of meaning to go

[mistressofmuses]

It's definitely a whole thing for the Swifties. I know there's the whole bracelet making and swapping thing, or used to be a couple years ago at least. And yeah, it's like a whole Event.

I find outfit planning hard. I have a handful of easy (lazy) options that I tend to pick from, but a lot of my old favorites (oh, my beloved little zip-up vest...) don't fit me any longer. And genuinely, I think it's a lot more difficult when you're trying to find a nice-but-masc outfit. It might just be a blind spot for me, but even when I'm trying to find things that are more masc-leaning for myself, it feels like there's little between "jeans and t-shirt" and "a damn suit."
Having something that you like - like a nice jacket - can help sort of give you something to build around!

Unfortunately I loathe shoe shopping, even though I know it's something that would improve my life, haha.
Especially if you have the chance to head somewhere that might have something like what you're looking for would definitely be good! It's a shame you might have to travel just to find what you need, but if you wanted to make the trip anyway...

[olivermoss]

Nice-but-masc is hard, especially since the fashion for guys for about a decade was florals and pastels. Both streetware and collared-shirt stuff was very femme. And I love that... on people who aren't me. Love it on other people. Streetware can be between t shirt and suit, but I don't know how to navigate it ans streetwear was all pastels for ages. That's probably changing now, but yeah, that is part of why I've got nothing. Another is weight loss, no real old reliables.

The right streetwear top, good heeled boots and a subtle bit of Stranger Things or Steddie flair would be the idea, but with how that's going it might be a month of prep.

Yeah, I should probably go to Seattle. We just don't have a lot of stores here and the ones we do have tend to be small. I keep hearing about Uniqlo and we don't have that here. We have Muji's, some really anemic department stores, and a lot of clothing resale.

[mistressofmuses]

I do remember when floral and pastel was all the rage for dude fashion. Which is fine! But... not really the best for everyone.

Streetwear stuff is often pretty neat and is sometimes where I can best see the sorts of fashion that seem appealing, but... requires finding the right pieces and putting it together. That does sound like the pretty ideal outfit idea. I just wish it wasn't the kind of thing likely to take so much prep!

I have... heard of Uniqlo, I think? We've got like, one major alternative-y goth/punk/club store, but I can't afford most of what they sell, much as it gives me heart-eyes to look at it. (And much of it was probably more suitable for me a decade ago, haha.) Other than that, I don't really even know where to look except for thrift stores, which is painfully hit or miss.

[olivermoss]

I am sure that the right streetware pieces exist for me, but navigating that scene would take ages.

Uniqlo is basic clothes, but with higher quality materials and tailoring. So, longer wearing and more flattering. Also, since it's Japanese the menswear is for men who are less tall.

[mistressofmuses]

Ah, that is where I've heard of them then - the whole "better quality, so lasts longer." I haven't ever looked at their stuff, but man, having things that aren't fast fashion sure would be nice.